5 REAL ways to look younger overnight

When it comes to skin care, there are plenty of "facts" that prove false (like, say, chocolate causes acne), yet there is one idea that continues to ring true: You can't be lazy when it comes to taking care of your skin. So in order to look our best, we spend a good portion of our waking hours slathering on sunscreen and applying moisturizing lotion. That got us thinking -- there has to be something that we can do to continue the youth revival while we sleep. After a bit of digging, we found that there are actually quite a few tricks to help boost a youthful appearance in the p.m. hours.

See below for five tricks to help you look younger overnight (instead of just dreaming about it).

Sleep on a Silk Pillowcase

When we asked NYC dermatologist Dr. Gervaise Gerstner if there was any truth to this claim, she told us, "My grandmother did it to protect her hairdo; my friends say it causes fewer wrinkles." Then she added, "Ultimately, it's the knit of silk that's closer than, say, cotton, so it's less irritating to the skin and makes fewer creases -- you may notice a small difference." Worth a shot, right?

Use Facial Oil

Nighttime is when your skin naturally starts to rest and repair; it's when your skin-restoration systems ramp up. Coupling that idea with the fact that you're not touching, prodding or rubbing your face makes evenings a great time to give your skin an assist. Enter facial oil, which won't feel sticky against your pillowcase. Look for a lightweight formula that helps boost skin surface-cell turnover.

Follow the One-to-One Rule Before Bed

Sometimes having a glass of wine (or two) before bed feels like a necessity. We're not judging -- really! But while there's nothing wrong with a bit of imbibing, you should never plan to get under the covers without balancing your body. Gerstner recommends a glass of water to match each serving of alcohol. This might mean a few extra trips to the bathroom in the middle of the night, but you'll thank us when you wake up with rested skin that shows minimal (versus magnified) signs of the previous night's activities.

We're not sure what a chiropractor would have to say about this one, but according to Gerstner, raising your head above your body keeps your face from looking puffy in the morning. "It helps keep fluid from retaining in your face," she explains.

Target Problem Areas

You may have heard this mantra before, but it bears repeating: A full night's sleep will help make your skin look better. To which Gerstner adds, "And you should experience fewer dark circles." We say try a little target practice to help trouble spots look better even faster. And if you tackle these skin zones while you're asleep, you allow for the product to really seep in. Our favorite area to hit: the eyes. Look for an eye treatment that targets wrinkles and reduces bags (two of the biggest eye-aging culprits).